“Critical Care” quotes
(1997)
Sidney Lumet
directed this movie
in 1997
Title Critical Care
Year 1997
Director Sidney Lumet
Genre Drama, Comedy
Year 1997
Director Sidney Lumet
Genre Drama, Comedy
Plot – Dr. Werner Ernst is about to finish his second year as an intern specializing in intensive care. The work is hard but the future looks rosy. One day Felicia Potter, daughter of one of his dying patients, approaches him and informs him of her father's desire not to have an artificially prolonged life. Felicia's sister, Connie, has a different opinion: she claims to communicate with her father and to be convinced that his desire is to continue to live, regardless of the quality of life and the expenses. Money is instead what Dr. Butz, Werner's superior, worries about the most. He wants to squeeze every penny out of his patient and instructs nurse Stella to act accordingly, although she does so reluctantly. Felicia, young and attractive, seduces Werner and records him stating that her father will never regain consciousness. Werner finds himself caught in the fight between the two sisters, a dispute that concerns medical treatment as well as a $10 million legacy. When Felicia's lawyers call on him to testify, Werner, worrying about his career and his future, manages to recover his sense of professional ethics. He forces the two women to make a final choice, in which he also earns a lot of money. He returns to the hospital, switches off the machinery and puts to death the old Potter. Leaving the hospital he sees a boy wounded by a car and runs to his aid, although from behind Chief of Staff Butz screams to ask if the boy is insured before admitting him to hospital.
All actors – James Spader, Kyra Sedgwick, Helen Mirren, Anne Bancroft, Albert Brooks, Jeffrey Wright, Margo Martindale, Wallace Shawn, Philip Bosco, Colm Feore, Edward Herrmann, James Lally
show all“Critical Care” Quotes 12 quotes
“- Constance 'Connie' Potter: Doctor, I don't mean to be angry.
- Dr. Werner Ernst: Forget about it, I don't mean to be inhumane.”“With modern medical technology I could probably give a glass of water all the vital signs necessary to be legally alive. And I can end his life any time I want just by turning a knob.”
“When those lawyers start crawling all over you, that's when you know you're a doctor.”
“- Dr. Werner Ernst: It's important to say we did as much as we could.
- Stella: Which is doctor-speak for we put this patient through hell before he died.”“Before we prepare a case it is absolutely essential that we know the truth, so that we can teach our witnesses to articulate truth to our best advantage.”
“If the patient were part of an HMO then I could understand your dilemma. With those babies we get paid not to perform medical procedures. It's a little like when the government pays the farmers not to grow crops. But with insurance we get paid to perform medical procedures.”
“I wish they'd teach more about litigation in medical school.”
“- Dr. Werner Ernst: If you were comatose would you want to be kept alive for months by machines?
- Dr. Butz: Hell, no! When I go, I don't want to be tortured in some bed. I have this planned out, Warner. I'm gonna be sitting on my back porch, I'm gonna have a Cuban cigar in one hand, and a big glass 'o scotch in the other, and a belly full of...” (continue)(continue reading)“- Bed Two: Will I see God?
- Furnaceman: Forget about it, you haven't got a chance.
- Bed Two: But I didn't do anything. I didn't commit any mortal sins, maybe... okay, maybe a few little sins.
- Furnaceman: Look, you were suppose to love God and love your neighbor. You didn't do either. You loved your parents. Big deal.”“- Dr. Werner Ernst: If he's going to die, why should we proceed?
- Dr. Butz: Where have you been all your life? It's called revenue!”“Seeing patients is a waste of time.”
Highlights
